Gate positioner



J. E. BASSO GATE POSITIONER Jan. 1, 1963 Filed May 23, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. JOHN E. BAsso ATTORNEYS Jan. 1, 1963 J. E. BASSQ 3,070,954

GATE POSITIONER Filed May 25, 1960 s Sheets-Sheet 2 -O d) N g V W a 2 a J on L ofl (UL: r llhl: h

k L Q o a a m ATTORNEYS Jan. 1, 1963 J. E. BAsso 3,070,954

GATE POSITIONER Filed May 23, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ,IIHIiI INVENTOR. JOHN E.BAsso gmifw A TTORNEYS United States Patent Ofitice 3,070,954 Patented Jan. 1, 1 963 3,070,954 GATE POSITIONER John E. Basso, Indianapolis, Ind., assignor to The Buehler Corporation, a corporation of Indiana Filed May 23, 1960, Ser. No. 30,950 1 Claim. (Cl. 60-355) The present invention relates to propulsion apparatus for water craft and more particularly to a means for controlling the direction of movement of a jet-propelled boat.

At least one form of water jet-propelled boat involves an engine arranged to drive a turbine which is located within a conduit passing through the boat. Water is drawn into the conduit through an intake opening at the bottom of the boat, is pumped through the conduit by the turbine and is exhausted in a stream from the rear of the boat, the stream leaving the boat above the water within which the boat is floating or is supported. The propulsion principle depends directly on a basic law of physics which provides that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Thus, as water is ejected astern, the boat moves forward.

One problem present in the construction and operation of such jet-propelled boats is the controlling of the direction of movement thereof. It is desirable that emcient, inexpensive, easily operated control means be provided for causing the boat to move both forwardly and rearwardly. It is also desirable that the control means be capable of eliminating the thrust produced by the jet and, in certain applications, that the control means be capable of causing the boat to move slowly forwardly.

It is, therefore, one object of the invention to provide improved propulsion apparatus for water craft.

A further object of the invention is to provide. for a jet boat an improved control means operable by mere depression of push buttons.

Still another object of the present invention is to pro vide efficient, inexpensive, easily operated jet boat control means for selectively producing rearward or forward movement of the boat and for eliminating the thrust pro; duced by the jet even though the engine continues operation. i i

Related objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds: Y I

One embodiment of the invention comprises a propulsion apparatus for water craft including means for propelling a stream of liquid from the craft.v A gate is reciprocably mounted with relation to the craft and is movable to and from a position wherein the stream of liquid is deflected. There is further provided electrically actuated means for moving the gate, a plurality of manually operable switches being electrically connected in circuit with the means and arranged when closed to actuate said means to move the gate toward a selected position. A cam is operatively connected to the gate for movement therewith and operates to actuate a second plurality of switches which condition the circuit to operate the means to position the gate in the selected position in response to the actuation of the manually operable switches.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claim.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a jet boat embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view similar to FIG. 1 and partially in section of the rear of the boat.

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are fragmentary views similar to FIG. 2 showing the apparatus in various operating positions.

- FIG. 6 is a schematic" view illustrating the interrelation of the various elements of a control device forming a part of the boat of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a schematic electrical view of electrical circuits included within a cam assembly forming a part of the structure of FIG. 6.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is illustrated a jet boat indicated generally by the numeral 10 and having a turbine 11 mounted therein at the rear thereof. Water is conducted to the turbine through an intake 12 at the bottom of the boat and is acted upon by the turbine in such a manner as to be exhausted in a stream from the rear of the boat, the turbine being driven by a conventional marine engine 13 operatively connected to the turbine by means of a Shaft 15.

Secured to the rear or transom 16 of the boat is a discharge section'or housing 17 which has a nozzle 18 fixedly secured therein. When the apparatus is in the position of FIG. 5, the water is pumped into the discharge housing 17 by means of the turbine and is formed into a cylindrical stream by means of the nozzle 18, the stream moving directly rearwardly of the boat through a cylindrical aperture 20 in a housing 21 secured to the discharge section 17.

If it is desired to turn or steer the boat rightwardly or leftwardly, steering apparatus 22 can be actuated to cause deflectors 2'3 and 24 to act upon the stream of water moving through the aperture 20 and to'deflect it to port orstarboard. It should be noted that the deflectors 23 and 24 are pivotally mounted upon opposite sides of the stream of Water for pivoting about shafts 25 (only one of which is shown).

A vertically movable gate or barrier, indicated generally by the numeral 26, provides a means for slowing, stopping and reversing of the jet boat. The gate 2 6 includes a plate 27 formed at its lower end portion with a recess 28. The recess 28 has a concave face which, in the lowered position of the gate shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, is presented to the lower portion of the outlet opening of the nozzle 18 and functions to change the direction of the water passing through nozzle '18 by almost :180 degrees.

v The gate 26 is slidable upwardly and downwardly withr in the housing 21 by means of a hydraulic motor 30 which is fixed to the upper end of housings 21 and 17' by'means of a suitable bracket 31. The gate may be moved to the intermediate position illustrated in FIG. 3 and is so proportioned that, when in this position, it completely covers the opening through the nozzle 18 and bottles up the water within the discharge section eliminating the thrust produced by the stream of water, yet allowing continuous engine operation.

The gate may be moved by means of the hydraulic motor to the position of FIG. 4 wherein passage of the water from the nozzle through the aperture 20 is restricted and the thrust produced is decreased. The position'of FIG. 4 is termed the troll position because, when the gate is in this position, the boat moves slowly forwardly.

The lower end of the housing 211 is provided with an opening 3 2 which permits downward movement of the gate to the position illustrated in FIGS. 2. and 6. When the gate is in this position, the water moving from the discharge section 17 passes into the recess 28 and is deflected forwardly of the'boat by the downwardly inclined portion 35 of the gate whereby the boat is caused to move rearwardly. Thus, it can be seen that the gate control 26 provides means for causing the boat to move rearwardly (when in the position of FIGS. 2 and 6), for causing the boat to move forwardly (when in the position of FIG. 5), for causing the boat to move slowly forwardly (when in the position of FIG. 4) and for stopping the boat (when in the position of FIG. 3). The operator of the boat moves the gate to these various positions by depressing one of a plurality of push buttons 36, 37, 3-8 and 39 which causes the gate to be moved to the forward (F), troll (T), neutral (N) and reverse (R) positions, respectively. The push buttons 36-39 are mechanicaly interlocked in conventional manner. In other words, when one of the buttons is depressed, itwill be locked in a depressed condition until another of the buttons is depressed.

When one of the push buttons 36-39 is depressed, a reversible electric motor 40 is actuated to drive a pump 41 which is connected to the motor by suitable hydraulic lines 42 and 43. Depending upon the direction of rotation of the reversible electric motor 40, the pump 41 will be actuated to pump hydraulic fluid through the hydraulic line 42 causing the gate 26 to be raised or will be actuated to pump hydraulic fluid through the hydraulic line 43 causing the gate 26 to be lowered.

It can be appreciated that the hydraulic motor 30 is conventional and comprises a suitable piston operating between the outlets for the hydraulic lines 42 and 43. The motor and pump 41 combination is also conventional and may include a conventional reversible DC. motor directly coupled to a coaxially arranged conventional reversible pump.

A tubular casing 45 is fixedat one end to the bracket 31 and at the other end to a bracket 46 fixed to a base 47 which is in turn fixed to the boat 10. A flexible line 50 has its one end fixed to the gate at 51 and has its other end fixed to a cam 52 reciprocably mounted upon the upturned ends 53 and 54 of a mounting member 55 fixed to the base 47. The flexible cable 50 connecting the gate and cam causes the cam to move with the gate. In other words, any movement of the gate produces an equal movement of the cam.

Thus, when the gate is in the lowered reverse position of FIGS. 2 and 6, the cam 52 has the major portion of its reduced diameter portion 56 between the upturned ends 53 and 54 of the mounting member 55. When the gate 26 is in the upward position of FIG. 5, most of the reduced diameter portion 56 is moved past the upturned end 54 so that it is no longer between upturned ends 53 and 54 and is out of the mounting member 55 and the enlarged diameter portion 57 of the cam engages the actuating arms of a plurality of switches 60, 61, 62 and 63.

A power source 65 is grounded at 66 and is connected in series to the forward winding 67 and the reverse winding 70 of the electric motor 40, the windings 67 and 70 being. arranged in parallel. Lines 71 and 72 connect the windings 67 and 70, respectively, to terminal posts 75 and 76, respectively. A wire 77 (FIG. 7) is connected to the terminal post 76 and leads to one terminal 80, 81 and 82 of each of the swtches 60, 61 and 62, respectively. The other terminal post 75 is connected by means of wires 85 to one terminal 86, 87 and 88 of switches 61, 62 and 63.

Switch 60 includes two contacts, the contact 80 and the contact 96 which may be connected to one another by means of a conducting element 91 which is positioned by the actuating arm of the switch. The switch 60 is moved to the position shown in FIG. 7 when the enlarged portion 57 of the cam 52 is not engaging and depressing the actuating arm of the switch. When the cam is moved to a position wherein the enlarged portion 57 depresses the actuating arm of the switch 60, the conducting element 91 is placed in contact with the contacts 80 and Switch 61 is provided with four contacts, the contacts 81 and 86 and further contacts 92 and 95. When the reduced portion 56 of the cam is positioned adjacent the switch 61 as shown in FIG. 6, the actuating arm is extended and a conducting element 96 engages contacts 86 and 95 providing electrical connection therebetween. When the cam is so positioned that the enlarged portion 57 of the cam engages the actuating arm and depresses it, the conducting element 96 is moved to connect the contacts 81 and 92.

The switch 62 is provided with four contacts, the contacts 82 and 87 and further contacts 97 and 100. The switch also has a conducting element 101 which is located in the position shown in FIG. 7 when the reduced portion 56 of the cam is positioned adjacent the switch so as to allow the actuating arm thereof to be extended. When the enlarged portion of the cam engages the actuating arm of the switch 62, the conducting element 101 is moved to engage the contacts 82 and 97 and to provide electrical connection therebetween.

The switch 63 is provided with two contacts, the contact 88 and a further contact 102, which is connected by wire 105 to terminal post 106. When the cam is in the position illustrated in FIG. 6 with the reduced portion thereof adjacent the actuating arm of the switch 63, the conducting element 107 of the switch engages the contacts 88 and 102 providing electrical connection therebetween. When the enlarged portion of the cam engages the actuating arm of the switch and depresses it, the conducting element will be moved away from the contacts 88 and 102 and the switch will be opened.

It should be noted that each of the switches is provided with suitable spring means for resiliently retaining its actuating arm in an extended position except at such time when the cam engages and depresses the actuating arm. It should be further noted that the cam has a frustoeonically shaped portion 108 which may engage the actuating arms of the switches 61 and 62 in such a manner as to position their conducting elements 96 and 101 in intermediate positions wherein the conducting elements contact none of the contacts of the two switches.

In addition to the terminal post 106, the base 47 has mounted thereon terminal posts 110, 111 and 112. The terminal post is connected by means of wire 115 to the contacts 97 and 100 of switch 62. The terminal post 111 is connected by means of wire 116 to the contacts 92 and 95 of the switch 61. The terminal post 112 is connected by means of the wire 117 to the contact 90 of the switch 60.

The terminal post 106, 110, 111 and 112 are connected by wires 118, 119, 120 and 121, respectively, to contacts 122, 123, 124 and 125, respectively, of switches 36-39, respectively. Each of switches 36-39 has its contact 125A grounded at 126. Thus, whenever one of the switches 36-39 is depressed to cause its contact 125A to engage one of the contacts 122-125, the respective wire associated with the contact will be grounded and connected to the positive side of the power source 65. It should be noted that, when the cam 57 is in the position of 56, the various switches 60-63 will be in the positions illustrated in FIG. 7.

Assume now that the operator of the device desires to place the gate 26 in its most upward position wherein the boat may move at full speed in a forward direction. Push button 36 is pressed. Because each of push buttons 36-39 is interlocked, the push button 39 will be released and the push button 36 will remain depressed until'a further one of the push buttons 37-39 is depressed. Depression of push button 36 causes the contacts 122 and 125A to be closed and causes the contacts 125 and 125A to be opened.

The power source 65 will be connected to the forward winding 67 through the line 71, the line 85, the switch 63, the line 105, the line 118, the contacts 122 and 125A and the grounds 126 and- 66. The energization of the forward winding 67 causes the electric motor 40 to rotate and to operate the pump 41 causing hydraulic fluid to be conducted through hydraulic line 42 into the hydraulic motor 30 raising the gate. As the gate moves from its most downward position of FIG. 6, toward the most upward position of FIG. 5, the cam 52 will be moved downwardly.

As the cam moves downwardly, it depresses in order the actuating arms of the switches 60, 61, 62 and 63. Depression of the actuating arms of 60, 61 and 62 has no effect at this time other than to connect contacts 80 and 90, disconnect contacts 86 and 95, connect contacts 81 and 92, disconnect contacts 87 and 100 and connect contacts 82 and 97. However, the depression of the actuating arm of the switch 63 disconnects the contacts 88 and 102 breaking the circuit to the forward winding 67 and stopping the gate in the uppermost position as illustrated in FIG. 5.

Assume now that the operator presses the push button 38. Contacts 122 and 125A will be separated and contacts 124 and 125A will be locked together. The reverse winding 70 will be energized by power source 65 through grounds 66 and 126, contacts 124 and 125A, the line 120, the line 116, contact 92, conducting element 96, contact 81, the line 77 and the line 72. The energization of the reverse winding 70 causes the electric motor 40 to rotate and to operate the pump 41 causing hydraulic fluid to be conducted through the hydraulic line 43 into the upper end of the hydraulic motor 30 lowering the gate.

As the gate moves downwardly from the position of FIG. toward the position of FIG. 3, the cam 52 will be moved upwardly. As the cam moves upwardly, the enlarged portion 57 of the cam will move away from the actuating arm of the switches 63 and 62 allowing the conducting element 107 to electrically connect the contacts 88 and 102 which, however, has no effect at this time inasmuch as the contacts 122 and 125A are opened. The movement of the enlarged portion 57 of the cam away from the switch 62 allows the conducting element 101 to move away from the contacts 82 and 97 and to engage the contacts 87 and 104) which also has no effect at this time.

The cam 52 moves upwardly until the frustoconical portion 108 engages the actuating arm of the switch 61 which allows the conducting element 96 to move away from the contacts 81 and 92. The disconnecting of contacts 31 and 92 deenergizes the reverse winding '76 whereby the gate 26- is stopped in a position of FIG. 3. Assuming for the moment that the gate should travel a slight amount beyond this position, the frustoconical portion 108 will move away from the actuating arm of the switch 61 allowing the conducting element 96 to connect the contacts 86 and 95. This action will energize the forward winding 67 causing the gate to be returned to the position of FIG. 3.

It is believed that the further operation of the apparatus can easily be deduced from the above description of operation. It should be noted that the action of the switches 60, 61, 62 and 63 is to sense the position of the gate and to condition the circuit to operate the motor in the correct direction in response to the actuating of the manually operable switches 36-39. Thus, if the gate 26 is below the desired or selected position, the switches 6tl63 condition the circuit to cause the motor to move the gate upwardly and if the gate is above the desired position, condition the circuit to cause the motor to move the gate downwardly.

From the above description, it will be obvious that the present invention provides an improved propulsion apparatus for water craft. It can also be seen that the present invention provides for a jet boat an improved controlling means operable by the mere depression of a push button. It can further be seen that the present invention provides an efficient, inexpensive, easily operated jet boat control means for selectively producing rearward movement, forward movement of the boat or eliminating the thrust produced by the jet even though the engine continues operation.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claim are also desired to be protected.

One example of an alternative embodiment of the invention might comprise a basically circular cam mounted for rotation about its axis. Because the cam enclosure could be sealed against moisture, such a cam would permit the use of ordinary unenclosed leaf switches in place of switches 6063 for reducing cost. As a further alternative or addition, a hydraulic valve or valves might be put in the hydraulic lines between the pump and motor to control speed of operation, i.e. movement of the gate to its various positions. 1

The invention claimed is:

Propulsion apparatus for water craft comprising means defining a water conveying conduit having an outlet end for discharging the water in the form of a jet aft of the craft, gate means operably associated with said outlet end movable back and forth through a path to and from positions wherein the water discharged from the outlet is and is not diverted, electrically actuated means for moving said gate back and forth through said path, a plurality of manually operable electrical switche electrically connected to said last mentioned means and each arranged, when closed, to actuate said electrically actuated moving means to move said gate toward a respective one of said positions, a cam reciprocably mounted on said craft, a flexible cable of constant length connecting said cam and said gate means, a casing of constant length fixed to said craft and receiving said cable whereby a given movement of said gate means produces an equal movement of said cam, and a further plurality of electrical switches located to be actuated by said cam as it moves, said further plurality of switches arranged to actuate said electrically actuated moving means to stop said gate means at the respective selected position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 141,340 Evans July 29, 1873 844,090 Bijur Feb. 12, 1907 1,948,951 Walker Feb. 27, 1934 2,821,172 Randall Jan. 28, 1958 3,007,305 Hamilton Nov. 7, 1961 OTHER REFERENCES New Zealand Patent Ofiice Journal, vol. 48, No. 956, January 1959, published in Wellington Feb. 26, 1959, page 14.

Yachting magazine, vol. 106, No. 5, November 1959, pages -71. 

